Latest news with #AlanChan
Daily Express
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Express
Location doesn't matter anymore: TikTok Exec
Published on: Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jul 16, 2025 By: Jessie Lee Text Size: Alan Chan, TikTok Asia-Pacific Managing Director, who previously led regional expansion for Alibaba and Lazada, shared his insights recently at Jesselton Quay Sky Gallery. Kota Kinabalu: Imagine launching a business, not in a mall, not on a high-traffic street, but in a quiet spot where walk-ins are rare. To most, that would sound like a mistake, but not to Alan Chan. The TikTok Asia-Pacific Managing Director who previously led regional expansion for Alibaba and Lazada shared his insights recently at Jesselton Quay Sky Gallery, here. Advertisement Through real-world lessons from his time in the digital trench, he made one thing clear – the way people discover businesses has changed. 'When I first went to China in 2010, Taobao was already the biggest app. And you know what is crazy? If you look at their homepage today, it is almost the same,' he said. China's largest online marketplace, he explained, has kept its interface largely unchanged despite a decade of digital innovation. This reflects what Alan calls a 'lean forward experience', where users are actively searching to shop. But platforms like TikTok are different as they represent a 'lean back experience', one where discovery happens while users are relaxing. He gave a personal example of buying a karaoke machine during a 20-minute ride home, after watching a TikTok livestream. 'I had no intention of buying one. But by the time I got home, I had already placed the order,' he said. The host sang live, answered questions in real time and showed how the machine worked with old TVs, enough to convert him from viewer to buyer. 'On TikTok, it is very vibrant, because you can see a lot of entrepreneurs. 'They can be students, homemakers or part-timers, but important to note here is that you need to pay to use them,' he said. Beyond its creator ecosystem, Alan said TikTok's monetisation model demands a shift in mindset. 'If you sell a bottle for RM100, the platform takes RM25,' he said, explaining that instead of spending big upfront, sellers only pay as sales come in. 'In the old way, you start a new brand, you spend RM1 million on advertising, outdoor, absolutely. But nowadays, you can plan it with your margin. So as you sell, you burn up. It is a different way of doing business,' he said. For sellers, the next step is choosing how to drive that discovery. Alan compared livestreaming and short videos as core sales tools. 'Livestreams are high-converting, like 'lunch and dinner', but require more effort. The golden hour is 8pm to 10pm, that is when people buy,' he said. He said short videos, on the other hand, are like 'snacks', easier to scale and continue to perform over time, but both are important. Another key sales feature is TikTok's 'yellow bag', a shopping cart icon that lets users check out directly inside the app. 'On other platforms, you click out, copy links, message sellers, it is slower. 'On TikTok, conversion happens inside the content,' he said, adding that while these in-app tools boost speed, external chats add value to customer relationship management. Yet even with the right tools, for many businesses, content creation is a balancing act of cost, speed and ownership. '[Sometimes], you only pay the rent, but the land is not yours,' Alan said, referring to how some may pay for videos they do not fully own when working with external creators, at times facing the risk of sample loss. He shared how sellers in China are turning to AI as one shoot can generate dozens of videos with different selling points, targeting different buyers with the same video. During the Q&A session, Alan encouraged local businesses to position themselves on platforms like Douyin and Meituan which travellers often consult before even booking their flights. 'If your customers are coming from China, advertise where they are, before they even leave,' he said. For Alan, success comes down to platform strategy and execution, not just location. With the right content, visibility and mindset, he believes location is no longer the barrier it once was. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Global experts at SMU City Dialogues Vienna: Urban resilience requires trust, equity and 'smart enough' solutions
SINGAPORE and VIENNA, July 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As a partner event of the Mayors Forum of the World Cities Summit 2025, the fourth edition of SMU City Dialogues was successfully organised by Singapore Management University (SMU) in partnership with Urban Innovation Vienna (UIV) on 2 July 2025 at Vienna City Hall. City Dialogues Vienna welcomed over 100 attendees from 20 countries; with representation from more than 20 universities and over 30 private and public organisations – a testament to the diversity and dynamism of our global community, and the urgency and relevance of the dialogue topic of urban resilience. The event opened with a welcome address by SMU Provost, Professor Alan Chan, followed by remarks from Mr Melvyn Ong, Permanent Secretary (Development) at the Ministry of National Development, Republic of Singapore. The keynote address was delivered by Mr Jürgen Czernohorszky, Executive City Councillor for Climate, Environment, Democracy and Personnel of the City of Vienna. Centered around the guiding question "What is the value of urban resilience?", the event brought together urban leaders, policymakers and academics from Europe, Asia and beyond to exchange actionable insights towards resilient, inclusive and future-ready cities. The programme featured three thematic tracks, each addressing a core dimension of urban resilience: Finance and Public-Private Partnerships Social Equity and Environmental Sustainability Innovation and Technology These parallel discussions concluded with a joint key takeaway session led by SMU professors Winston Chow and Orlando Woods, alongside UIV's Johannes Lutter. Their insights made one thing clear: urban resilience is not a buzzword, but a lived responsibility which requires trust, participation, and context-sensitive action. Professor Winston Chow, Co-Chair of the IPCC Working Group II and Professor of Urban Climate at SMU, said, "Resilience isn't just about surviving, it's about thriving. We need to align financial systems with social goals, build trust through good governance, and empower communities to shape their own future." Prof Chow also cautioned against over-reliance on public-private partnerships, noting that "public-private partnerships can be powerful tools, but they are not universal solutions. They require competent, stable governments, extensive due diligence and clear alignment of interest." SMU Professor of Geography Orlando Woods, who is also Director of the SMU Urban Institute, reflected on the limitations of digital solutions in addressing complex urban challenges. While his group was tasked with exploring innovation and technology, much of the discussion shifted toward the structural problems that technology alone cannot resolve. "It's not about being a smart city. It's about being a smart enough city. Smart enough relative to the context, the specific problem we are trying to solve with the technology that we have." He emphasised that overreliance on data and digital tools often leads to oversimplified responses, while masking deeper systemic issues like inequality, mental health, or infrastructural neglect. Dr Johannes Lutter Senior Urban Planner at Urban Innovation Vienna, outlined three key messages on how resilience can be made more socially inclusive and locally grounded. "Given our limited resources, it is essential that we take targeted action—focusing in particular on those who are most vulnerable. To do so effectively, we must have a clear understanding of who is at risk." "We must restore agency to communities—not by shifting responsibility onto them and stepping back, but by fostering a structured dialogue between governments and communities, ensuring genuine collaboration between public institutions and the people they serve," he added. About SMU City Dialogues Initiated in 2019 by Singapore Management University, the City Dialogues series fosters candid exchange among policymakers, academics and business leaders. It aims to generate actionable recommendations for sustainable and inclusive urban development. Previous editions held in Singapore and Bangkok successfully brought together leaders from government, industry, and academia to engage in honest, action-oriented conversations. City Dialogues | City Perspectives View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Singapore Management University Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Associated Press
04-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Global experts at SMU City Dialogues Vienna: Urban resilience requires trust, equity and 'smart enough' solutions
SINGAPORE and VIENNA, July 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As a partner event of the Mayors Forum of the World Cities Summit 2025, the fourth edition of SMU City Dialogues was successfully organised by Singapore Management University (SMU) in partnership with Urban Innovation Vienna (UIV) on 2 July 2025 at Vienna City Hall. City Dialogues Vienna welcomed over 100 attendees from 20 countries; with representation from more than 20 universities and over 30 private and public organisations – a testament to the diversity and dynamism of our global community, and the urgency and relevance of the dialogue topic of urban resilience. The event opened with a welcome address by SMU Provost, Professor Alan Chan, followed by remarks from Mr Melvyn Ong, Permanent Secretary (Development) at the Ministry of National Development, Republic of Singapore. The keynote address was delivered by Mr Jürgen Czernohorszky, Executive City Councillor for Climate, Environment, Democracy and Personnel of the City of Vienna. Centered around the guiding question 'What is the value of urban resilience?', the event brought together urban leaders, policymakers and academics from Europe, Asia and beyond to exchange actionable insights towards resilient, inclusive and future-ready cities. The programme featured three thematic tracks, each addressing a core dimension of urban resilience: These parallel discussions concluded with a joint key takeaway session led by SMU professors Winston Chow and Orlando Woods, alongside UIV's Johannes Lutter. Their insights made one thing clear: urban resilience is not a buzzword, but a lived responsibility which requires trust, participation, and context-sensitive action. Professor Winston Chow, Co-Chair of the IPCC Working Group II and Professor of Urban Climate at SMU, said, 'Resilience isn't just about surviving, it's about thriving. We need to align financial systems with social goals, build trust through good governance, and empower communities to shape their own future.' Prof Chow also cautioned against over-reliance on public-private partnerships, noting that 'public-private partnerships can be powerful tools, but they are not universal solutions. They require competent, stable governments, extensive due diligence and clear alignment of interest.' SMU Professor of Geography Orlando Woods, who is also Director of the SMU Urban Institute, reflected on the limitations of digital solutions in addressing complex urban challenges. While his group was tasked with exploring innovation and technology, much of the discussion shifted toward the structural problems that technology alone cannot resolve. 'It's not about being a smart city. It's about being a smart enough city. Smart enough relative to the context, the specific problem we are trying to solve with the technology that we have.' He emphasised that overreliance on data and digital tools often leads to oversimplified responses, while masking deeper systemic issues like inequality, mental health, or infrastructural neglect. Dr Johannes Lutter Senior Urban Planner at Urban Innovation Vienna, outlined three key messages on how resilience can be made more socially inclusive and locally grounded. 'Given our limited resources, it is essential that we take targeted action—focusing in particular on those who are most vulnerable. To do so effectively, we must have a clear understanding of who is at risk.' 'We must restore agency to communities—not by shifting responsibility onto them and stepping back, but by fostering a structured dialogue between governments and communities, ensuring genuine collaboration between public institutions and the people they serve,' he added. About SMU City Dialogues Initiated in 2019 by Singapore Management University, the City Dialogues series fosters candid exchange among policymakers, academics and business leaders. It aims to generate actionable recommendations for sustainable and inclusive urban development. Previous editions held in Singapore and Bangkok successfully brought together leaders from government, industry, and academia to engage in honest, action-oriented conversations. City Dialogues | City Perspectives View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Singapore Management University
The Sun
28-06-2025
- The Sun
Our Brit daughter, 15, was killed by boat propeller while snorkelling in Maldives…we're forced to investigate ourselves
DEVASTATED parents say they have been forced to investigate the death of their British daughter themselves after being refused support from officials. Jenna Chan, 15, was tragically killed by a boat propeller while on a school trip snorkelling in the Maldives. 2 2 British-Singaporean dual national Jenna was a student at St Joseph's International Institution and had been assisting the British registered charity, the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme (MWSRP), in its research expedition. On November 8, the school girl was allegedly beckoned into the water but within minutes was "sucked under" when the engine was switched on. Her parents, Alan and Jennifer Chan, have said that more than a month after the tragic incident they are "still waiting for answers" and have "been forced to become their own investigators". As a state, the Maldives does not provide post-mortem examinations so the couple are hunting for information about their daughter's death "completely" on their own. Jennifer told The Times: 'We just want to know why Jenna died. There is no justice and we are completely on our own.' Alan flew out to the island in March to get hold of the hospital CT scans that were used by police to determine a possible cause of death. Jennifer, a surgeon, examined the pictures with her colleagues who she said were horrified "because Jenna's injuries were so horrific". The couple said they haven't even been allowed to speak to any of the teachers who were on board the boat at the time of the incident. They believe there was "no real investigation" into the accident, adding that there was a "chain of errors" throughout the excursion, they claim. According to some of the students, Jenna was reportedly instructed to enter the water while the guides tracked dolphins. The teenager was then allegedly "sucked up" by the engine before reportedly being brought to the nearest hotel instead of hospital. Michael Johnston, CEO of St Joseph's International Institution , previously wrote to the parents informing them that efforts to piece together what had happened to Jenna were being impeded by MWSRP. According to the school's boss, the company was "refusing" to provide access to their staff and crew for interviews. "We remain exasperated at their lack of co-operation," he said. Jenna's 17-year-old sister Alice has started a GoFundMe to raise awareness of the teen's accident and help with legal fees while the family fight for answers. The caption for the fundraiser reads: "My sister, 15 year old British-Singaporean Jenna Chan, was killed in a propeller accident during a school trip in the Maldives. "There has been silence from the Maldivian government and all news about her has ceased. "The circumstances leading to her sudden death and negligence of the company is truly shocking to our family and her teenage friends, who witnessed her death. "Please help support us during this tough time for our family and loved ones, and spread the word about her case. "All donations will go towards our fight for Jenna and protection of all future children and tourists, by providing our Maldivian lawyers with the legal fees and financial support to take more cases just like this one." We just want to know why Jenna died. There is no justice and we are completely on our own Jenna's mum, Jennifer Chan So far, £6,595 of its £10,000 has been raised. Jenna was laid to rest on November 15 in Singapore. A spokesperson for the young girl's school said that it had been "unrelenting" in its efforts to find out what happened and is still waiting on a report from the Maldivian authorities. In a statement, the school said: 'The school has been unrelenting in our efforts to piece together a full account of what happened. "The Maldivian authorities investigation is still ongoing and we have yet to receive their report. "The Maldivian authorities and MWSRP have not given us access to interview the boat captain and crew nor the MWSRP staff. These are critical pieces for all of us. 'I can confirm that the Maldives Police Service was in Singapore and with the support of the Singapore Police Force facilitated interviews with witnesses on May 27 and 28, 2025. "We continue to actively support the investigation. We have not and will not stop seeking answers and supporting those involved.' The MWSRP said: 'At the time of the incident, Ms Chan was under the supervision of two teaching staff from SJII and an experienced boat crew. "The emergency response was in accordance with our procedures and Ms Chan was taken directly to a local health centre.'
South China Morning Post
31-05-2025
- Climate
- South China Morning Post
High spirits as Hong Kong's Dragon Boat Festival kicks off amid strong winds
Hong Kong dragon boat racers are in high spirits for Tuen Ng Festival, despite strong winds, with tourism authorities expecting a 14 per cent increase in mainland Chinese visitors compared with previous weekends. A tourism spot, where the Stanley International Dragon Boat Championship is taking place, was packed with racing teams and residents on Saturday morning. 'The weather today is a little windy, which may affect our performance,' said Alan Chan, team captain of the West Kowloon Cultural District's Dragon Boat team. 'Given the wind, there could be big waves when we go out to the sea later, which would affect our results. The waves were not that big when we practised. We will do our best.' The team, joining the competition at Stanley Main Beach for the first time, said they had completed seven two-hour lessons to prepare for the event. While some may view the weather as an obstacle, others believe it can give them a boost.
